The Fulton Hornets got their rematch with the unbeaten Blair Oaks Falcons, but the stakes are much more significant this time.
To no one's surprise, No. 2 seed Fulton (9-2) will travel to top-seeded, second-ranked Blair Oaks (11-0) tonight to battle for the Class 3, District 6 title. Kickoff is 7 p.m. in Wardsville.
"We've talked to the kids about it," Fulton head coach Pat Kelley said during Tuesday's practice. "It's one of those things we didn't talk a lot about it the last several weeks, but in the back of everybody's mind I think everybody kind of figured it was going to come down to us and Blair Oaks.
The Hornets will get the chance to avenge their 52-14 loss at Blair Oaks last year in the District 6 semifinals.
"Last year we didn't play well early; by the time we finally caught our breath we were down three touchdowns," Kelley said. "We just didn't recover from that. Our kids are excited about the oppurtunity to play them and give them a better game than we did last year."
The Falcons - who average a dazzling 55.4 points per game - have outscored their two opponents by a decisive 128-6 margin in the District 6 playoffs. Senior quarterback Jordan Hair completed 21-of-23 passes for a stunning 457 yards and seven touchdowns in Blair Oaks' 58-6 dismantling of No. 5 seed Eldon in last week's semifinals.
Hair has passed for 1,993 yards, 25 touchdowns and only five interceptions this season, but has also rushed for 486 yards and 12 scores.
"If you take away the run, he will beat you by throwing the ball," Kelley said. "If you take away the pass, he'll beat you by using his legs. "We've got to do a good job and keep him contained."
Hair's main targets are senior wide receivers C.J. Closser and Adam Schell. Closser leads the Falcons with 52 catches for 953 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Schell has 34 receptions for 627 yards and nine scores.
Junior running back Cody Alexander has also gained a team-high 847 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Hornets will have to clean up a pass defense that surrendered 293 yards and four scores in last week's 61-48 semifinal shootout over No. 6 seed Southern Boone in Fulton.
"We have to keep leverage over (Blair Oak's) receivers," Kelley said. "There were a lot of times last week that I think we were a little confused and we have to do a better job communicating across the line because we know it's going to be loud.
"We have to limit the big plays. We gave up four 25-yard-plus pass plays (against Southern Boone). Those things you have to kind of limit, because watching Blair Oaks, they definitely thrive on the big play. We've got to be sound in our assignments; they run a lot of veer option and their quarterback is awfully, awfully good."
With Fulton senior running back Travis Dean out for the season with a torn ACL, Fulton relied on its passing attack in outlasting the Eagles last week. Junior quarterback Devin Masek was 23-of-33 passing for a school-record 405 yards and four touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Rardarion Glover also had a career night with eight catches for 212 yards and three scores.
Southern Boone geared its defense to stop the run and blitzed the Hornets often, and Masek made them pay.
"They were bringing seven guys to our one back and Devin was able to pick that guy out and made sure we were able to get rid of the ball, Kelley said. "We just have to continue to play up front like we have all year."
Fulton will confront a stout Blair Oaks defense that is allowing just 13.9 points per game. The Falcons have three shutouts in their last four games and have given up just one score during that span.
"We just have to hope that our (offensive) line holds," Kelley said. "I felt like we played very, very well up front on the offensive side of the ball (last week)."
Despite the Hornets' success in throwing the ball last week, Kelley stressed that they need to get a rhythm going with their running game tonight.
"We like to go into the ballgame trying to establish the run," Kelley said. "We didn't do a good job of that last week, but a lot of that had to do with the fronts they were giving us and we'll have to see what Blair Oaks does.
"Most of the time they're in a base 4-3 (scheme), kind of ... a defense like ours. Hopefully we can get some matchups in the box we like and be able to run the ball a little bit better."